5 bodies stuck along highway transported by Volunteers, food served to stranded people: Officials; Highway to remain shut for Feb 24, Mar 03, 10 for undertaking repairs: Traffic Advisory
Banihal/Jammu- The one-way traffic resumed on the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Wednesday after remaining suspended for about 38-hours following a landslide in Ramban district, officials said.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic (national highway), Banihal, Asghar Malik said the road clearance operation at the landslide-hit Sher Bibi near Banihal was still going on.
Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on the highway after a massive landslide blocked the arterial road at Sher Bibi around 2 am Tuesday. The road clearance operation was hampered by continuous shooting of stones from the hillock throughout the day.
“Despite intermittent shooting of stones, the road clearance agencies worked hard since this morning to ensure that the road is opened for one-way traffic which was allowed at around 4 pm (Wednesday),” Malik said.
No fresh traffic was allowed either from Srinagar or Jammu for the second day in the morning as authorities focused on road clearance operation and to clear the stranded vehicles on priority, a traffic department official said.
He said some more time is needed to make the road two-way at the landslide hit stretch.
He said five bodies were also stuck on the highway. However, the bodies were transported by Volunteers of (NGO Banihal Volunteers and Himalaya QRT Ramsoo) today afternoon. He further said district administration Ramban along with volunteer organizations provided tea and breakfast to stranded passengers on the highway.
Meanwhile, the Jammu-Srinagar national highway will remain closed for traffic for three days (Feb 24, Mar 3 & 10) for undertaking repairs, maintenance in various critical spots along Jammu-Srinagar highway.
An advisory issued by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic NHW Ramban reads, “Based on J&K UT Government directions passed on 22.03.2023 for undertaking important repair and maintenance works on NH-44 by NHAI, 24 February 2023 has been declared Traffic Dry Day between Nashri to Navyuga Tunnel.”
It reads, no LMV or HMV (except medical emergency vehicles) will be allowed to ply on NH-44 between Nashri Tunnel towards Navayuga Tunnel and vice-versa from 6 AM on 24th February 2023 till 6 AM on 25th February 2023.”
The Advisory further said that moreover as per JK government’s directions, similar dry days on NH-44 will also be observed on 3rd and 10th March 2023.
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